Page 47 of Fire to the Stars

“Another demand from Ma’s captors.”

I snatch it. “Already?”

He nods. “Someone slipped it into my pocket before service.”

It takes me a moment to parse out the Old Tongue, but mentally, I gather the gist of the scrawled note.

Learn which dragon pit Monsieur Estellio will use to slay Hanna’s target. Deliver a note with the precise location to the church before the full moon.

I bring a hand to my mouth. This demand proves that my hunch about their motives was correct. There’s only one reason those silver-masked criminals would risk their lives to ambush Abel at the scene of a slaying. They plan to assassinate him—and pin the blame on the dragon.

Just as they did to Ravinfort.

Abel was right about his bad luck. The attack on Ravinfort wasn’t even meant to include him, but we still stumbled upon it.

Between that massacre and Lyle’s extortion, those assassins must be working hard to suppress any scrap of progress toward a cure. This second demand note is just more of the same—another attempt to stage a death by dragon, then slink back into the shadows, like the silverwolves they tamed.

If the assassins arethismotivated to remain undetected, I’m starting to wonder about Madame Afi’s chances. Lyle’s, too.

I risk a sideways glance at him. His posture is decent, eyes anxious but alert as they wander the pews. He hasn’t reached the same conclusions I have. No need to frighten him without taking my thoughts to Marshal Bard first.

“This demand doesn’t specify where inside the church to leave the note,” I whisper. “They must plan to pickpocket it fromyou.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t catch who planted it on me in the first place.” Lyle lowers his head into his hands. “Do you think those killers are among the clergy?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised, personally.”

His smile turns watery. “This place doesn’t feel safe after all.”

“You’re still alive, though. Once the Gendarmerie form a plan, the truth will come out.”

“I keep thinking back to that day I yelled at Hanna about Abel’s research.” His knee starts to bounce. “If only I’d kept my mouth shut—”

“You couldn’t have predicted what happened.” I squeeze his shoulder. “Besides, even if you hadn’t done it, I’m sure someone else would’ve alluded to a cure in his possession. Rumors of Abel’s research had reached Port-de-Chance well before you said anything. It’s the reason I hired him.”

Confusion cuts into his expression. “Whydidyou want a slayer with a bad reputation?”

I pat my satchel. “I was fishing for a discount.”

“Just business, then.” He laughs, accepting the demand note when I offer it back. “I’ll need to let Ma’s abductors pickpocket me to appear compliant. Did Abel reserve a dragon pit yet?”

“He’s working on it.”

“Tell a gendarme as soon as he does. Hopefully it helps create a rescue plan for Ma.”

I pick at my petticoat. “We probably shouldn’t make direct contact for a while. If the culprits see me around you more than once, they’ll realize you sought help.”

He nods. We sit in contemplative silence while the rest of the crowd filters out. A young altar girl soon enters. She extinguishes each lit candle with a shiny brass snuffer. I keep my head down and my scar angled away. Her back is turned and she’s unlikely to hear, thanks to the open doors and the boisterous city crowd, but I didn’t survive this long by taking risks. Time for me to leave.

“Challenges your faith, doesn’t it?” Lyle says.

I blink. “What does?”

“When harm comes to innocent people. Like Ma.” He smiles wearily. “Sometimes it feels unfair that Diu took the miracle of immortality and creation magic from everyone just to teach our ancestors a lesson about crime and greed.”

I remain in my seat, intrigued that a Guild member would say something akin to my beliefs. “That’s a lesson your mother’s abductors refuse to learn, it seems.”

“I wish Ma were immortal.”